Do the Pats just have better endurance?

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

I am wondering if the Pats just have better endurance.

In three of the last four game the Patriots have played against teams that play at or above them for three quarters and then the Pats won in the fourth.

Often people analyze this as the other team giving up the game. I really doubt these professionals after leading the Pats for three-fourths of a game would just, decide to quit mid-game.

Maybe what is happening is the Pats are just in better shape to execute in the fourth quarter because they are less tired.

Maybe it is possible to cover Moss for 10 or 15 routes but not on the 25th.

With the exception of RB the Pats are relatively healthy and have good backups that can rotate in. Maybe what is happening is just that in order to keep pace with the Pats you must run at full speed, but the Pats can play at a pace that keeps them still relatively fresh in the fourth.

Agree/disagree?

 

[Remix 6]

no. we just have better talent and coaching as well as the most clutch player in Brady.

 

[80Brown]

Great thoughts but I think most players (read: not all) take conditioning seriously. It came down to overall superior players and definitely superior coaching.

 

[Garbanza]

The Pats have veterans that do not have a major melt-down when facing adversity - like Baltimore did last night. Lets be real for a moment, the Pats should have lost the contest. Their experience under fire, luck and Tom Brady prevented it from happening.

 

[Brownfan80]

I think that the earlier games that were called 'running up the score' are actually showing up when they count now. Brady himself said that they weren't running it up, they were playing for 60 minutes and trying to score on every drive.

That's shown up.

All the practice with 4th downs in those blow outs showed up HUGE against the Ravens, IMO.

Practice makes perfect. I'm glad that the Patriots didn't play 3 quarters in those blowouts. I'm glad that they kept the pedal to the metal. Now when they need that action to win late, the experience between the different offensive players is there.

Good on 'em for runnin' it up!

 

[stinkypete]

The Pats have better depth at most positions, so their guys have a touch more stamina at the end of games. They are prefessionals, and don't embarras themselves like Bart Scott did last night.

What sets the Pats apart most for me is that they don't make late game "panic" mistakes. Face it, even after 2 consevutive nail biters, the Patriots are still in opponents heads. How else do you explain Feeley and Boller making nearly identical late game mistakes. How else do you explain Baltimore going pass, pass, pass with 3 minutes to go and the lead when they've been running successfully all night?

 

[He Ban Me]

No, it's a number's game, six chances inside the 20, they'll score eventually.

 

[pats1yes]

Actually what I think you see happening is a team finding itself. So many new players.

We were pretty good last year, but our WR's were flat out awful -- except for our guy Troy. We lost the SB last year because of the lack of quality WR's.

So we get these great guys, Moss, Stallworth, Welker and we think we can win on those guys (and of course Brady) alone. And it worked quite well until winter set in and the rest of the league figured out we were going one dimensional.

It just doesn't work that way. You have to have a balanced attack to win. It really bothered me to see Maroney on the bench.

You NEED a running game in the winter. I thought to myself last night, without that guy we would have lost last night.

So, back to the boards. A balanced attack. Last night I felt Maroney would be quite OK as our guy in the backfield. I would rather see us draft two great LB's.

But you are quite accurate on one very, very important point. You have to play our guys 60 minutes, no let up. Brady is in my mind the best QB that ever played the game. He is just over the top good.

So, yes. We are "losing" our luster because teams now are keying on our WR's. So, you have a RB, so you have a TE. So, boys and girls, go for it.

I am sure this has not passed the eyes of BB.

A balanced offense is the key to a SB.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

The Pats have better depth at most positions, so their guys have a touch more stamina at the end of games. They are prefessionals, and don't embarras themselves like Bart Scott did last night.

What sets the Pats apart most for me is that they don't make late game "panic" mistakes. Face it, even after 2 consevutive nail biters, the Patriots are still in opponents heads. How else do you explain Feeley and Boller making nearly identical late game mistakes. How else do you explain Baltimore going pass, pass, pass with 3 minutes to go and the lead when they've been running successfully all night?

Well, I don't know about you but I make more mistakes when I am tired then when I am not tired.

 

[PatsDeb]

I don't know if it is endurance or just the will to keep playing hard for 60 minutes and see what happens. In years past the team would kind of give up if things started going really wrong (as many teams do). I think Brady has matured (and the rest of the team has followed suit) and instead of losing it, just keeps going, hoping something good will happen, which so far (Indy, Philly, Balt.), it has.